PAC Activity Increases in 1995-96 Election Cycle
WASHINGTON -- Financial activity by political action committees (PACs) increased during the 1995-96 election cycle, according to figures compiled by the Federal Election Commission. From January 1, 1995, through December 31, 1996, PACs raised $437.4 million, an increase of 12% over 1994, and spent $429.9 million, up 11% over 1994. Cash on hand as of December 31, 1996, totalled $103.9 million.
PACs contributed $217.8 million to federal candidates during the 1995-96 cycle, up $28.5 million (15%) when compared to the previous two-year cycle. Most of the money, $203.9 million, went to candidates seeking election in 1995-96. The remaining $13.9 million went to candidates running for office in future years, or to debt retirement for candidates in past cycles. Incumbents received $146.4 million, challengers were given $31.6 million, and open seat candidates $39.8 million. This represents a lower proportion of contributions to incumbents than has been common in recent election cycles.
The following table shows the distribution of contributions to incumbents, challengers, and open seat races over six election cycles (in millions of dollars).
AMOUNT & PERCENTAGE OF PAC CONTRIBUTIONS ACCORDING TO CANDIDATE STATUS
1995-96 1993-94 1991-92 1989-90 1987-88 1985-86
Incumbents $146.4 67% $137.2 72% $135.3 72% $125.8 79% $118.2 74% $96.2 69%
Challengers $31.6 15% $19.0 10% $22.9 12% $16.2 10% $18.9 12% $19.9 14%
Open $39.8 18% $33.4 18% $30.7 16% $17.1 11% $22.2 14% $23.8 17%
Seats
For the first time in recent years, Republican candidates received
more PAC contributions than their Democratic counterparts. The
disparity between the parties was not as great, however, as it
had been in previous cycles when the Democrats controlled both
chambers in Congress. Republicans received $118.2 million from
PACs, up $46.5 million from the previous cycle, while Democrats
received $98.9 million, down $18.8 million from the 1993-94 cycle.
The following chart provides PAC contributions and percentages
by political party over several election cycles (in millions of
dollars).
AMOUNT & PERCENTAGE OF PAC CONTRIBUTIONS BY PARTY
1995-96 1993-94 1991-92 1989-90 1987-88 1985-86
SENATE
DEMOCRATS $19.4 35% $26.8 50% $31.8 57% $24.8 51% $28.3 55% $22.7 45%
REPUBLICAN $36.1 65% $26.7 50% $23.9 43% $23.9 49% $23.4 45% $27.4 55%
HOUSE
DEMOCRATS $79.4 50% $90.7 67% $88.1 67% $73.3 67% $68.4 66% $56.1 63%
REPUBLICAN $79.7 50% $45.0 33% $43.7 33% $36.9 33% $35.7 34% $33.5 37%
Contributions to 1996 Senate campaigns increased $1.9 million
to $45.6 million from 1994, while contributions to House races
increased $23.9 million to $155.8 million. The following table
shows the total amount as well as the distribution of PAC contributions
between Senate and House candidates over several cycles (in millions
of dollars).
PAC CONTRIBUTIONS
All 95-96 93-94 91-92 89-90 87-88 85-86 83-84 81-82 79-80 77-78
Federal
Candidates $217.8 $189.6 $188.9 $159.1 $159.2 $139.8 $113.0 $87.6 $60.2 $35.2
Current $203.9 $179.6 $179.4 $149.7 $151.1 $132.7 $105.3 $83.6 $55.2 $34.1
Candidates
$45.6 $47.2 $51.2 $41.2 $45.7 $45.3 $29.7 $22.5 $17.3 $9.7
Senate
$155.8 $132.4 $127.4 $108.5 $102.2 $87.4 $75.7 $61.1 $37.9 $24.4
House
In addition to the $217.8 million in contributions, PACs made
$10.6 million in independent expenditures for and against candidates,
a $5.5 million increase over the previous cycle. Of the $10.6
million, $6.8 million was spent on behalf of various candidates
and $3.8 million was spent against them. Most of the money,
$9.1 million, was spent in Congressional races. In the Presidential
campaign, PAC independent spending dropped from $4 million in
1992 to $1.4 million in 1996.*
The following pages provide data on PAC financial activity for
the 1995-96 election cycle and comparable summary statistics for
several previous election cycles. Other tables show the distribution
of PACs by total amount spent and total contributed to candidates.
Also included are the rankings of the "Top 50" PACs
in various categories, such as money raised and spent.
This news release and accompanying statistics can be found on
the FEC''''s World Wide Web site, htp://www.fec.gov.
* Some organizations sponsoring PACs may also have participated
in issue advocacy campaigns during 1996. These activities, which
do not advocate the election or defeat of a candidate, are not
reported to the FEC.
- Summary of PAC Activity for 1995-96
- PAC Financial Activity - 1986 - 1996
- ''''95-''''96 PAC Contributions by Type of Campaign
- Contributions by Type of Campaign, 1992, 1994, and 1996
- PAC Independent Expenditures in 1995-96
- PAC Contributions to House Campaigns by Type of Campaign over Several Election Cycles
- PACs Grouped by Total Spending
- PACs Grouped by Total Contributions to Candidates
- Top 50 PACs by Receipts - January 1, 1995 - December 31, 1996
- Top 50 PACs by Disbursements - January 1, 1995 - December 31, 1996
- Top 50 PACs by Contributions to Candidates - January 1, 1995 - December 31, 1996
- Top 50 PACs by Cash on Hand as of December 31, 1996
- 50 PACs with the Largest Increase in Receipts - 1994 to 1996
- 50 PACs with the Largest Decline in Receipts - 1994 to 1996
- 50 PACs with the Largest Increase in Contributions to Candidates - 1994 to 1996
- 50 PACs with the Largest Decline in Contributions to Candidates - 1994 to 1996